Episode 1: The Power of Being Older in the Classroom

Can slowing down be the secret to getting ahead in life? Join us as we explore this provocative idea with John Chavez, a veteran educator with over two decades of experience. John shares his game-changing 17, 18, 19 approach and discusses the vital years before college. Discover how the developmental differences among students in the same grade can significantly impact their readiness for college and adulthood. It's not just about hitting the books; it's about nurturing social and emotional maturity that grows with age.

John shares his innovative strategy of having children repeat kindergarten at a new school, which effectively resets their educational journey without the stigma of being held back. We touch on fascinating research from the Journal of Educational Psychology that illustrates the benefits of being older within a grade, including higher self-esteem and reduced anxiety. While this approach isn't a universal fix, it sparks a compelling conversation about how a child's relative age can influence their confidence and performance. Tune in to hear John's personal experiences and insights, and consider how this approach might transform your child's educational path.

Transcript

Speaker 1 0:39

Okay, so have you ever heard of the term redshirting? You know, like in education it's kind of interesting, right? Like we're always told to go, go, go faster, further got to get ahead. But what if and I know this sounds kind of counterintuitive but what if slowing down like actually help us get further in the long run? That's the whole idea behind redshirting, at least in the world of education.

Speaker 2 1:04

Okay.

Speaker 1 1:05

And it's a pretty hot topic these days. We've actually got John Chavez. He's a super experienced educator, been doing this for over 20 years, also a coach, and he's got this really interesting take on redshirting.

Speaker 2 1:16

Yeah.

Speaker 1 1:16

He actually used it with his own sons.

Speaker 2 1:18

Oh, wow.

Speaker 1 1:24

And he calls it the 17, 18, 19 approach Okay, and it really focuses on those years leading up to college, you know, like those make or break years. So that's what we're going to be diving into today.

Speaker 2 1:31

Awesome.

Speaker 1 1:31

It's kind of like, you know, back in high school and there was always that one kid who was like a year older than everyone else, Like I specifically remember gym class and it'd be that one kid who was just like towering over everyone else. And and it'd be that one kid who was just like towering over everyone else and you just knew they were going to like dominate in basketball, Right, but I never really thought about it beyond that. You know, like the whole bigger picture.

Speaker 2 1:50

Right right.

Speaker 1 1:51

But John Chavez did, and he actually lived it, even with his own sons. So what exactly is this whole 17, 18, 19 philosophy?

Speaker 2 2:02

So it's actually pretty straightforward when you think about it. You know how in a typical high school graduating class, you've got kids who are 17, 18, and 19?.

Speaker 1 2:11

Right yeah.

Speaker 2 2:11

All in the same grade, all working towards, you know, graduation, college applications, that whole thing. But developmentally they can be in totally different places. Oh, absolutely Like a 17-year-old compared to a 19-year-old, that's huge. Huge yeah, and that's Chavez's big point. Even just that one year can make a world of difference in terms of how ready a student is for college, and you know just life in general.

Speaker 1 2:35

So it's not even just about like their grades and academics.

Speaker 2 2:39

Exactly, it's about the whole package. You know that social, emotional maturity that comes with age. It's about being able to handle the pressures and responsibilities that come with college and, frankly, just being an adult.

Speaker 1 2:51

That makes a lot of sense. So how does this 17, 18, 19 thing actually work? Like is he saying hold kids back a year?

Speaker 2 2:59

So it's a little different than the traditional way people think about redshirting. Usually, parents think about holding their kid back in kindergarten.

Speaker 1 3:07

Yeah, that's what I always thought it was.

Speaker 2 3:08

But Chavez, he suggests something different. He says delay their entry into first grade and have them repeat kindergarten.

Speaker 1 3:14

Oh, interesting OK.

Speaker 2 3:15

But and this is key have them repeat kindergarten at a new school.

Speaker 1 3:19

Oh, I see. So it's like hitting the reset button, but without like the stigma of being held back with the same group of kids.

Speaker 2 3:27

Exactly, you got it. See, there's actually a ton of research out there that shows how much of an impact a kid's relative age within a grade can have on them psychologically. Like there was this one study, I think it was in the Journal of Educational Psychology and they found that students who are older than their classmates in the Journal of Educational Psychology and they found that students who are older than their classmates, they tend to have higher self-esteem and way less anxiety.

Speaker 1 3:47

Oh, wow, yeah.

Speaker 2 3:49

Which makes total sense, right yeah, if you think about it, if you're always the youngest in the class, you might feel a little unsure of yourself, a little more pressure to keep up.

Speaker 1 3:56

It's like that feeling of always playing catch up, even if you're doing just fine.

Speaker 2 4:01

Yeah, exactly, and that can really wear on a kid's confidence and their performance in school.

Speaker 1 4:06

That makes a lot of sense, but OK, so there has to be like downsides to this whole thing too, right?

Speaker 2 4:11

Oh, absolutely. It's not a magic solution or one size fits all kind of thing, right? I mean, one of the biggest concerns is how a kid would adjust socially, you know, if they're always a year older than their classmates yeah, that's true will they be able to find their group, make friends and really feel like they belong, or will they always feel like they're on the outside looking in?

Speaker 1 4:33

that's a really good point.

Speaker 2 4:34

I didn't even think about that and then there's the whole thing about how they see themselves academically. If they know they had that extra year, will they always wonder if they actually needed it. You know, like would they have been just as successful without it?

Speaker 1 4:47

Right.

Speaker 2 4:48

And that could really mess with their confidence as learners. And then, of course, the big overarching question is does delaying formal education really give kids a big advantage in the long run?

Speaker 1 5:00

Right.

Speaker 2 5:01

Or are there other things that matter more, like their family background, how much money their parents make, their individual learning styles? You know all that kind of stuff.

Speaker 1 5:09

It's definitely a lot more complex than it seems at first glance. I mean, it really makes you think, like if you were in this position and you had to make this decision for a kid in your life, what would you do? Like if you had a niece, a nephew, your own child, what would be the most important factors for you?

Speaker 2 5:25

Oh man, that's a tough one. There are so many things to consider. I mean, you'd have to think about their personality, how they learn best, how well they get along with others. Are they already kind of ahead of the game, or are they struggling to keep up? I mean, it's definitely not a one size fits all situation.

Speaker 1 5:41

Definitely not. It's a lot to weigh.

Speaker 2 5:44

Exactly, and you really have to think about the long game, like how is this decision going to affect how they grow socially, how they see themselves as learners and how prepared they are for not just college but like life after that?

Speaker 1 5:58

It's a really interesting perspective for sure, and I think, if anything, it challenges that whole idea that getting ahead always means going faster. Definitely. You know, sometimes slowing down a bit might be the best way to help a child truly thrive.

Speaker 2 6:12

Absolutely Couldn't agree more.

Speaker 1 6:14

Something to think about, especially if you're like tempted to rush towards that finish line. Sometimes taking a little detour might be the best way to go For sure Sometimes taking a little detour might be the best way to go, for sure, and you know, it makes you wonder. If slowing down can be so beneficial in education, could it apply to other areas of life as well?

Speaker 2 6:31

Hmm, that's interesting.

Speaker 1 6:32

Like what about redshirting in sport Right, or music or even the arts Right? I mean, there are definitely places where developmental differences can be just as important as they are in school. Absolutely so maybe that's something for all of us to ponder, whether we're parents, educators, coaches or just you know trying to navigate our own paths in life.

Speaker 2 6:53

I like it. It's definitely something to think about.

Speaker 1 6:55

Because maybe, just maybe, slowing down is the key to unlocking our full potential.

Speaker 2 7:01

I'm all for that.

Speaker 1 7:02

Well, on that note, that's our deep dive for today. Thanks for joining us and we'll catch you next.